Heterotopic Ossification With Concurrent Chronic Osteomyelitis of the Leg Following Licking of a Wound by a Domesticated Dog

Liang Chen Huang, Ya Hui Wang, Tsing Li Lin, Wei Cheng Hung, Shyu Jye Wang

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1 Citation (Scopus)

Abstract

Introduction. HO with concurrent chronic osteomyelitis is extremely rare. To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first case in the English-language literature with wound infection and mature HO with chronic osteomyelitis caused by mixed infection of Pasteurella canis, Peptoniphilus coxii, Peptostreptococcus canis, and Fusobacterium nucleatum following licking of a wound by a domesticated dog. Case Report. A 49-year-old female with a painful, swollen, and purulent wound with bone exposure, measuring 2.5 cm × 1.5 cm, on the right leg was referred after an unsuccessful 3-month treatment regimen for an open wound resulting from a motorcycle accident. The patient’s dog licked the wound several times 1 week after the accident. Sequestrectomy and debridement were performed after a 3-week OPD treatment. Postoperative treatment included NPWT applied for 6 days, 1 week of open wound care, STSG 2 weeks after the first operation, and IV antibiotics for 3 weeks. Pathologic examination was positive for HO with chronic osteomyelitis. The patient was discharged 3 weeks after admission under stable condition followed by OPD treatment. Wound healing was achieved 2 months after discharge. Conclusions. Repeated licking of the patient’s wound by her dog caused the colonization of pathogens from the dog’s saliva, and inappropriate wound care by the patient herself resulted in HO with chronic osteomyelitis, which was successfully treated with a regimen of NPWT, open wound care, STSG, and IV antibiotics.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)E112-E114
JournalWounds
Volume34
Issue number11
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Nov 2022

Keywords

  • heterotopic ossification with chronic osteomyelitis
  • infection
  • licking of wounds by animals

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Medicine

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